The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-10-12
A Valuable Work.


Major Gil Osmun, secretary of state, has
the following good words in the Erening
Journal for our esteemed fellow citizen,
Prof. q. ID. Lawton, and his report on the
mining interests of Michigan:
Michigan is remarkable for several things,
but in no particular is its ascendancy more
assured than in the matter of its mineral
productions. 1t is the greatest iron ore,
copper and salt-producing state in the Union,
and to lesser extent yields other important
minerals. There is also manufactured within
it's borders large amount of cha coal pig
iron.
"The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is rap
idly growing in importance AZ mining
region. A comparatively few years ago 1t
was but vast, inhospitable, far-away wilder
ness, while now its great mineral deposits,
its surprising commercial advantages, have
transformed il into region teeming with
industry.
ats great mines of iron and copper are
among the richest and best i'll the world. No
mining work is anywhere more skillfully
done, and nowhere is there more powerful
machinery employed and more steady and
constant advancement made III this industry
that in the mines of Michigan.
"These comments are suggested by noting
the facts set forth in the last report by the
commissioner of mineral statistics, now
printed and nearly ready to be issued from
the press of Messrs. Thorp IL Godfrey, state
printers at Lansing.
1.-The volume comprises $50 printed pages,
uniform with other state publications, ex-
elusive of maps, statistical tables, ETC., sub
stantially bound, and will be found to be
valuable reading to ali persons interested in
,ir,ir OFT uybn haxn "a mi n
ing literature.
1.-The subject matter discusses the general
features of the mining industry in this state
during the past year, the characteristics of
the several districts into which the mining
territory is naturally divided, the new devel-
opments in each and description of each
mine, including the methods of mining,
qualities of the ore produced, amount of pro-
duct, etc. In fact, these descriptions are the
cautious statements of an experienced expert
who has examined personally adj the mines
i'll the state and who has thus given the re-
suits of his observations. Not only are all
the iron and copper mines fully described,
with such information given respecting them
as is of interest and value, but the coal, gyp-
sum, salt, gold, slate, sandstone, etc. De-
posts. are included as well, together with
tables showing the product of every mine IN
past years, and also excellent maps showing
the underground development i'll most of the
copper mines. In fact, the volume is a COM
plete exposition of the mining interests of
the state brought down TO the present time.
1.-The volume is one of series of similar
ones which have been written by the present
commissioner, Prof. Charles ID. Lawton, and
also by Mr.. Charles L. Wright, who formerly
held the same Office and who is now state
geologist. These volumes have filed an
important purpose in calling attention 10 our
vast mineral deposits and in giving accurate
information regarding them. They are
sought for by capitalists both at home and
abroad, and thus constitute an important
adjunct to our mining interests.
1.-The law provides for the printing of
| 1000 volumes of the commissioners report,
which are distributed gratutously to those
desiring them on application to the governor
or to the state geological board.
"Mr. Lawton, the commissioner, was for
merly a professor of engineering in the state
university and has had many years expert
ence in mining and geological work in the
| Upper Peninsula. The volumes which he
has written afford ample evidence of his
| thorough fitness for the Office. In addition
| to the preparation of an annual report, the
commissioner is required by the statute to
ascertain the amount of minerals produced
| by individuals or companies engaged in min
! ing in this state, which are subject to specific
| tax and TO report the same 10 the auditor
general.
"In the present volume is also contained q
chapter on blast furnaces, giving descrip-
ton and the statistics of all the blast furnaces
! in this state"